Crime, News

Troops Foil Coordinated Terrorist Assaults on Azir Bridge and Banki Military Bases

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 13th, 2026.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled coordinated attacks by suspected terrorists targeting military positions in Borno State.

Military authorities confirmed that the assaults occurred in the early hours of Friday at two strategic locations, Azir Bridge and the town of Banki, but were swiftly contained by security forces.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba.

According to the statement, the first attack began around 2:00 a.m. when insurgents reportedly advanced toward troops stationed at Azir Bridge within Sector 2 of the operational theatre. A second assault followed about an hour later, around 3:40 a.m., targeting the military base in Banki, located in Sector 1.

Reports of the confrontation were also highlighted by several Nigerian media outlets. According to The Nation Newspaper, the attackers moved in large numbers in what appeared to be a coordinated attempt to overrun the military positions.

However, the troops responded swiftly, mounting what military officials described as decisive countermeasures that disrupted the attackers’ formation before they could gain ground.

Uba explained that the soldiers demonstrated high tactical readiness and launched strategic spoiling attacks that forced the insurgents to retreat from both locations.

Additional support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai played a critical role during the confrontation. According to reports by The Guardian Nigeria, close air support was deployed to reinforce ground troops, significantly weakening the advancing terrorists and helping to secure the affected areas.

The military spokesperson also addressed circulating claims on some online platforms suggesting that the terrorists had overwhelmed the bases, describing such reports as misleading.

He stressed that the troops maintained full control of their positions and continued to dominate the operational environment through sustained offensive operations.

“The troops remain firmly in charge of the locations and continue to conduct operations with high morale and strong combat capability,” he stated.

Operation Hadin Kai is the Nigerian military’s primary counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, tasked with combating extremist groups operating across the region.

Security analysts say the successful defence of the bases underscores the military’s continued efforts to prevent insurgent groups from regaining strategic footholds in communities across Borno State.

Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing operations aimed at neutralising terrorist elements and restoring stability across the North-East.